Testimony Trust and Triumph

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to accept the invitation of Jesus to “Follow Me”

Following Him

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents Paul’s Testimony to Jews in Rome.

* [28:16] With Paul’s arrival in Rome, the programmatic spread of the word of the Lord to “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) is accomplished. In Rome, Paul is placed under house arrest, and under this mild form of custody he is allowed to proclaim the word in the capital of the civilized world of his day.

* [28:20] The hope of Israel: in the words of Paul (Acts 23:6), Luke has identified this hope as hope in the resurrection of the dead.

* [28:30–31] Although the ending of Acts may seem to be abrupt, Luke has now completed his story with the establishment of Paul and the proclamation of Christianity in Rome. Paul’s confident and unhindered proclamation of the gospel in Rome forms the climax to the story whose outline was provided in Acts 1:8—“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem…and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts, CHAPTER 28 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 11 is a song of trust.

* [Psalm 11] A song of trust. Though friends counsel flight to the mountain country (a traditional hideout) to escape trouble (Ps 11:1–3), the innocent psalmist reaffirms confidence in God, who protects those who seek asylum in the Temple (Ps 11:4–7). (Psalms, PSALM 11 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents The Beloved Disciple.

* [21:22] Until I come: a reference to the parousia.

* [21:23] This whole scene takes on more significance if the disciple is already dead. The death of the apostolic generation caused problems in the church because of a belief that Jesus was to have returned first. Loss of faith sometimes resulted; cf. 2 Pt 3:4.

* [21:24] Who…has written them: this does not necessarily mean he wrote them with his own hand. The same expression is used in Jn 19:22 of Pilate, who certainly would not have written the inscription himself. We know: i.e., the Christian community; cf. Jn 1:14, 16. (John, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)

Kathy Kemler comments that  like us, Paul never got to meet Jesus when he walked this earth but was told by others about Him.

Paul had an ongoing spirit, a joy, a zeal for the Lord that is so admirable. In the face of so much turmoil, confrontation, and imprisonment, he didn’t give up; he just kept talking about Jesus (and pleading his own case, of course). He spoke of how Jesus wants us to live, to be joyful and not be afraid, to do good, and to turn away from sin. Paul has a lot of great messages that just spring from his foundation in Christ. It truly is admirable and brings to mind the phrase “joy in the Lord.” I think Paul’s deeply rooted foundation in Christ truly brought him this zeal and this joy in the Lord. What a gift to have!

I believe we could all have this joy in the Lord. Of course, it will be displayed through our own personality and our own life’s circumstances, but it certainly would be a beautiful thing to feel inside and be a true gift to the world as we proclaim the good news of the risen Lord in our own way through our own life. (Kemler, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “Peter follows, John remains,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"The Lord either said what he said to Peter about his martyrdom, or he said it about the gospel of John. As regards the martyrdom and this 'Follow me,' [he means] suffer for me, suffer what I did. Because Christ was crucified, Peter too was crucified... while John experienced none of this. That is what is meant by, 'It is thus that I wish him to remain.' Let him fall asleep without wounds, without torment, and wait for me. You, Peter, 'Follow me,' suffer what I did. That's one way these words can be explained...

"As regards the Gospel of John, though, this is what I think is meant: that Peter wrote about the Lord, others too wrote; but their writing was more concerned with the Lord's humanity... But while there is something about the divinity of Christ in Peter's letters, in John's gospel it is very much to the fore... He soared above the clouds and soared above the stars, soared above the angels, soared above every creature and arrived at the Word through which all things were made." (excerpt from Sermon 253.5.5) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 21:20-25 a call he likely issued—to all his apostles—over and over, in many different ways, during their time together.

Follow me. The call is simple but not easy. It’s a multifaceted call, which Jesus issues to each one of us.

So where are you today? If you’re nursing your ailing grandmother, follow Jesus by treating her with gentle compassion even when it’s hard. If you’re struggling to be content with the life God has given you, follow Jesus by focusing on being faithful to your calling and trusting that he will bless your every effort. If you’re trying to figure out the next steps for your life, follow Jesus by being consistent in prayer and waiting for him to reveal it.

Jesus will always lead you if you take the time to listen for his voice.

“Lord Jesus, I will take your hand and follow you.” (Meditation on John 21:20-25, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces spiritual director Therese DesCamp who reflects on her commitment to a contemplative practice.

 

My practice is not measured by how I feel or what I experience when I sit in place for a twenty-minute session. The true test of my practice is my behavior the other twenty-three-plus hours of the day.

A practice is just that: a practice. By definition, a practice gets me ready to do something else. One person practices scales on the piano so she can play a concerto beautifully. Another practices French so that he can converse easily. I practice Centering Prayer so that when life is coming apart at the seams, I remember how to stand steady. I practice Centering Prayer so that I can learn how to stand aside and let God work in and through me.…

Meditation practice can turn me into a sponge. The true nature of a sponge is that it gathers up water and it releases water. It does not hold onto, own, or create water…. In meditation, I am filled with the grace of God, the flowing waters of life. (If I am lucky, I will actually experience this in some way. But whether I consciously experience that grace or not, it is always true that I am filled with it.) Hence, the only goal I can truly name for my meditation practice is this: to let myself be filled, over and over, so that I can act as a streaming, saturated sponge, leaking Love in a dry and dusty world. (Rohr, n.d.)

We prepare to welcome the Holy Spirit to inspire us to follow Jesus in our contemplation and action to work for peace, love, and community.

References

Acts, CHAPTER 28 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved May 23, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/28?16 

John, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 23, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/21? 

Kemler, K. (2026, May 23). Daily Reflection May 23, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved May 23, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-23-2026 

Meditation on John 21:20-25. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 23, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/23/1575186/ 

Psalms, PSALM 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 23, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/11?4 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Practicing “Just This”: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 23, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/practicing-just-this-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Immensity of What Jesus Has Done for Us. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 23, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Risen for New Life

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder the hope that radiates from the Easter sunrise and this year from the latest view of earth from space, that God has the final Word of Love, awe, gratitude, and affirmation in our Creation.

He is Risen

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents Peter’s Speech to the household of Cornelius.

* [10:36–43] These words are more directed to Luke’s Christian readers than to the household of Cornelius, as indicated by the opening words, “You know.” They trace the continuity between the preaching and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth and theproclamationof Jesus by the early community. The emphasis on this divinely ordained continuity (Acts 10:41) is meant to assure Luke’s readers of the fidelity of Christian tradition to the words and deeds of Jesus.

* [10:36] To the Israelites: Luke, in the words of Peter, speaks of the prominent position occupied by Israel in the history of salvation.

* [10:38] Jesus of Nazareth: God’s revelation of his plan for the destiny of humanity through Israel culminated in Jesus of Nazareth. Consequently, the ministry of Jesus is an integral part of God’s revelation. This viewpoint explains why the early Christian communities were interested in conserving the historical substance of the ministry of Jesus, a tradition leading to the production of the four gospels.

* [10:39] We are witnesses: the apostolic testimony was not restricted to the resurrection of Jesus but also included his historical ministry. This witness, however, was theological in character; the Twelve, divinely mandated as prophets, were empowered to interpret his sayings and deeds in the light of his redemptive death and resurrection. The meaning of these words and deeds was to be made clear to the developing Christian community as the bearer of the word of salvation (cf. Acts 1:21–26). Hanging him on a tree: see note on 5:30.

* [10:42] As judge of the living and the dead: the apostolic preaching to the Jews appealed to their messianic hope, while the preaching to Gentiles stressed the coming divine judgment; cf. 1 Thes 1:10. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 118 is a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist.

* [Psalm 118] A thanksgiving liturgy accompanying a procession of the king and the people into the Temple precincts. After an invocation in the form of a litany (Ps 118:1–4), the psalmist (very likely speaking in the name of the community) describes how the people confidently implored God’s help (Ps 118:5–9) when hostile peoples threatened its life (Ps 118:10–14); vividly God’s rescue is recounted (Ps 118:15–18). Then follows a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist as the latter enters to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice (Ps 118:19–25). (Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Colossians proclaims Jesus Mystical Death and Resurrection.

* [3:1–4] By retaining the message of the gospel that the risen, living Christ is the source of their salvation, the Colossians will be free from false religious evaluations of the things of the world (Col 3:1–2). They have died to these; but one day when Christ…appears, they will live with Christ in the presence of God (Col 3:3–4). (Colossians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

The second Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Corinthians exhorts us to throw out the old yeast of our past.

* [5:7–8] In the Jewish calendar, Passover was followed immediately by the festival of Unleavened Bread. In preparation for this feast all traces of old bread were removed from the house, and during the festival only unleavened bread was eaten. The sequence of these two feasts provides Paul with an image of Christian existence: Christ’s death (the true Passover celebration) is followed by the life of the Christian community, marked by newness, purity, and integrity (a perpetual feast of unleavened bread). Paul may have been writing around Passover time (cf. 1 Cor 16:5); this is a little Easter homily, the earliest in Christian literature. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents Mary Magdalene, Peter and the Beloved Disciple finding the Empty Tomb.

* [20:1–31] The risen Jesus reveals his glory and confers the Spirit. This story fulfills the basic need for testimony to the resurrection. What we have here is not a record but a series of single stories.

* [20:1–10] The story of the empty tomb is found in both the Matthean and the Lucan traditions; John’s version seems to be a fusion of the two.

* [20:1] Still dark: according to Mark the sun had risen, Matthew describes it as “dawning,” and Luke refers to early dawn. Mary sees the stone removed, not the empty tomb.

* [20:2] Mary runs away, not directed by an angel/young man as in the synoptic accounts. The plural “we” in the second part of her statement might reflect a tradition of more women going to the tomb.

* [20:3–10] The basic narrative is told of Peter alone in Lk 24:12, a verse missing in important manuscripts and which may be borrowed from tradition similar to John. Cf. also Lk 24:24.

* [20:6–8] Some special feature about the state of the burial cloths caused the beloved disciple to believe. Perhaps the details emphasized that the grave had not been robbed.

* [20:9] Probably a general reference to the scriptures is intended, as in Lk 24:26 and 1 Cor 15:4. Some individual Old Testament passages suggested are Ps 16:10; Hos 6:2; Jon 2:1, 2, 10. (John, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. Andy Alexander, SJ  comments that Easter fills us with the freedom to love as we have been loved.

With our minds and hearts filled with Easter freedom, we can better love as we have been loved. We can be a source of reconciliation where there is conflict and division. We can speak truth to power on behalf of those on the margins. The tomb is empty. Let us live our lives full of that freedom.

“Easter does not eliminate the cross, but defeats it in the miraculous duel that changed our human history. Even our time, marked by so many crosses, invokes the dawn of Paschal hope. Christ’s Resurrection is not an idea, a theory, but the Event that is the foundation of faith. He, the Risen One, through the Holy Spirit, continues to remind us of this, so that we can be His witnesses even where human history does not see light on the horizon. Paschal hope does not disappoint. To believe truly in the Pasch through our daily journey means revolutionizing our lives, being transformed in order to transform the world with the gentle and courageous power of Christian hope.”

- Pope Leo XIV, General Audience, Wednesday, 5 November 2025 (Alexander, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes  “The Womb of the Earth Gives Birth”, by Hesychius of Jerusalem, who died around 450 A.D.

"Hidden first in a womb of flesh, he sanctified human birth by his own birth. Hidden afterward in the womb of the earth, he gave life to the dead by his resurrection. Suffering, pain and sighs have now fled away. For who has known the mind of God, or who has been his counselor if not the Word made flesh who was nailed to the cross, who rose from the dead and who was taken up into heaven? This day brings a message of joy: it is the day of the Lord's resurrection when, with himself, he raised up the race of Adam. Born for the sake of human beings, he rose from the dead with them. On this day paradise is opened by the risen one, Adam is restored to life and Eve is consoled. On this day the divine call is heard, the kingdom is prepared, we are saved and Christ is adored. On this day, when he had trampled death under foot, made the tyrant a prisoner and despoiled the underworld, Christ ascended into heaven as a king in victory, as a ruler in glory, as an invincible charioteer. He said to the Father, 'Here am I, O God, with the children you have given me.' And he heard the Father's reply, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool' (Psalm 110:1)." To him be glory, now and for ever, through endless ages. Amen. [excerpt from EASTER HOMILY 5-6]

Hesychius of Jerusalem was a priest and a Scripture scholar who worked with Jerome and Cyril of Jerusalem. He wrote a commentary on the whole Bible.He died around 450 AD. (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 20:1-9 comments that today we celebrate the culmination of the longing of God’s people through the ages. In today’s Gospel, we hear that when John looked into the empty tomb, he “saw and believed” (John 20:8). His eyes were opened, and he was able to respond to what he saw with faith. As we consider the empty tomb today, let’s ask the Lord to open our eyes and give us the grace to respond with faith as well!

Today as you rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus, rejoice in all its effects—both in your own life and for everyone. He has conquered sin and death and the devil! All our hopes have been fulfilled in him!

“Jesus, I rejoice in your resurrection! Open my eyes to see and believe all that you have accomplished.” (Meditation on John 20:1-9, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler offers some comments that the passage from Acts presents Peter preaching to Corneilus and his household in a dream that resonated with Peter’s vision. What God has created is clean and Cornelius, a God fearer, was to be accepted into the Church. In the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians we are called to the new life and we need to rid ourselves of the yeast of our old life. In the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb early in the morning. Mary goes alone representing the Church looking for her lover. When the Beloved Disciple is told of the empty tomb he runs and arrives first driven by love and waits and bows to authority represented by Peter who sees and and the Beloved sees and believes. Friar Jude notes that in the account in Matthew’s very Jewish Gospel two women give witness in a time when they could not give testimony. 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, explains how the resurrection offers us hope, especially in challenging times. Fr. Richard believes the resurrection of Christ is saying that the final judgment has already happened. It’s nothing we need to fear. It’s nothing we need to avoid or deny. God’s final judgment is that God will have the last word! Easter reveals that there are no dead ends; ultimately, nothing is going to end in tragedy and crucifixion. Of course we look around us, at history and at life in its daily moments and it seems, “No, that isn’t true.” And yet, ever and again, here and there, more than we suspect, new life breaks through for those who are willing to see and to cooperate with this universal mystery of resurrection.

Easter is the feast of hope. This is the feast that says God will have the last word and that God’s final judgment is resurrection. God will turn all that we maim and destroy and hurt and punish into life and beauty. 

What the resurrection reveals more than anything else is that love is stronger than death. Jesus walks the way of death with love, and what it becomes is not death but life. Surprise of surprises! It doesn’t fit any logical explanation. Yet this is the mystery: that nothing dies forever, and that all that has died will be reborn in love.

(Rohr, n.d.)

  

So, to be a Christian is to be inevitably and forever a person of hope. God in Christ is saying this is what will last: My life and my love will always and forever have the final word.  

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/10?34 

Alexander, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/ 

Colossians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/3?1 

John, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/20?1 

Meditation on John 20:1-9. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/05/1535628/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/5?6 

Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/118?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Hope of Resurrection. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). John Saw the Empty Tomb and Believed. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/